Fontana: Jimmie Johnson preview

Lowe's Chevrolet driver Jimmie Johnson returns to his home state of
California this weekend as the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series races at
California Speedway on Sunday. Johnson earned the first of his 23 Nextel
Cup victories at the Fontana track in ...

Lowe's Chevrolet driver Jimmie Johnson returns to his home state of
California this weekend as the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series races at
California Speedway on Sunday. Johnson earned the first of his 23 Nextel
Cup victories at the Fontana track in 2001. The 2006 Series Champion
finished 39th at the Daytona 500 on Sunday.

DRIVER JIMMIE JOHNSON QUOTES:

HOW DIFFERENT DOES IT FEEL TO COME OFF THE DAYTONA 500 THIS YEAR COMPARED
TO WINNING IT IN '06?
"Well, you certainly carry momentum
from race to race and that's a part of it. With the Daytona 500
being a restrictor plate race and then the bulk of the season being based
on downforce tracks, there is a little loss of momentum. The No. 29
(Kevin Harvick) team is definitely going to be on a high coming into
Fontana as will be the No. 01 (Mark Martin), but outside of that, the
season -- in some people's minds -- starts this weekend.
So out attitude will certainly adjust after the race at California
Speedway."

THERE IS SO MUCH HYPE WITH THE DAYTONA 500, DO YOU HAVE TO BE MORE
LEVEL-HEADED AND NOT GET CAUGHT UP IN IT EITHER WAY, GOOD OR BAD?
"I think everybody has their own style in the way they approach
things. As the years go by, I find myself much more relaxed in setting
the pace that I think I can keep all year long and not burning myself out
or over-worry about the start of the season or about that particular
event. So I think experience certainly helps relax the driver and the
team."

IS THERE MORE PRESSURE NOT TO GET IN A HOLE AT THIS POINT IN THE SEASON?
"No, it's racing. That's what we deal with.
Unfortunately we had a wreck in our first race of the season and this
coming race there will be a handful more guys that end up being caught up
in a wreck and go that way into Vegas and on and on and on. So it's
just how racing goes and it's one of 37."

Notes

* In eight starts at California Speedway, Johnson has completed all
2,005 laps. He owns one victory and four top-five finishes. His average
starting spot is 11.4 and average finish is 8.0. He has never finished
worse than 16th.